Nahr Elbared Refugee Camp

The Sabra and Shatila massacre in Lebanon sure was tragic, however, it was not the last tragedy happening to the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, as refugee camps are often neglected by the Lebanese government, and Lebanese Government Authorities have no right to go inside the camps. That and the inhuman living conditions ranging from shortage of survival elements such as food and water to expected increasing crime rates often result in terrorist cells forming inside the camps, which was the case in Nahr Elbared camp where my family was staying... and after the terrorist attacks against the Lebanese Army officers, the Lebanese Forces had no choice but to invade the camps leaving the Palestinian refugees in the camp homeless and with most of the terrorist group on the run, and the refugees in the camp had to leave to another refugee camp.... this is a link for a video that shows some of the horrible things those refugees.. I chose to discuss this parcticular camp because thats where some of my family members used to live, and so it has huge impact on my life today, anyway these are some of the many challenges the Palestinian refugees are facing trying to stay alive : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyvYKHwC7eU

Rober Fisk

Robert fisk was the reporter who discovered the massacres that happened in Sabra and Shatila Camps, here is some of what he had to say years after that horrible event....

July 21, 2007,
Palestinian Massacre at Sabra and Shatila,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FGijoJ3fl0,retrieved from dharmamarx, Sep 13,2008
I think i specifically chose to have a video of Robert Fisk, not only because he was an eyewitness, but also because he is known for his non biased fair journalism. This would assure the reader that this video is not to persuade a certain opinion, but only to discuss the facts.

Here's what an eye witness had to say about it all 25 years later...

September 16, 2007,
The Sabra and Shatila massacres - 16 Sep 07,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eidBhGS9i9g, retrieved from AlJazeeraEnglish, Sep 13,2008

I uploaded the video of the eyewitness as i thought it would speak more truth coming from people who saw the horrific massacre and assure the reader that it was all very real.

what many Palestinians see as unfair is that 7 years since September 11, the united states has occupied both Afghanistan and Iraq,raised hell in the middle east based on a video made by a group of terrorists who aren't yet caught, while all the evidence from the Sabra and Shatila camps massacres points at Ariel Sharon, yet we have lived to see him become a prime minister, with no real attempt at prosecuting him... democracy you say ?

Personal History

I chose to talk more about the Palestinian refugee crisis in Lebanon, due to my family's long history in suffering the crisis of being a refugee in such a politically unstable country. Lebanon's civil war that started in 1975, was no pleasant event for those ordinary Palestinians living in refugee camps surrounded by conflict, in an environment that was "very terrorist friendly". As the war grew more violent and racial, the Palestinian survival in Lebanon was under serious risk. I am going to discuss several tragedies that faced the Palestinian families living in refugee camps, including mine. one of the many results of the violence in Lebanon, was that Palestinians had to also form militias to ensure protection, as they faced many massacres. One of those many massacres is the notorious Sabra and Shatila massacre which was held by the so called "man of peace" Ariel Sharon, the former Israeli prime minister.

Palestine... Oh Palestine

While whats going on in Gaza is very tragic, what many people don't acknowledge is the Palestinian Refugee problem. In 1948, When the State of Israel was formed, millions of Palestinians were forced to leave their homeland in order to stay alive. 60 years, later those people are still refugees, some deprived of the simplest human rights, living in refugee camps in very awful situations. after 6 decades of promises, the Palestinian refugees are split between those who live by a dream of returning home, and those who have lost hope in humanity, and have no sense of belonging anywhere, those who live under the dilemma of giving up on their dreams and leading healthier lives under different citizen ships, or those who choose to keep dreaming... this is a video showing the status of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon....

May 28, 2007,
Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon (Part 1)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utpbDrDjU1o, retrieved from afilmspalestine, Sep 12, 2008

May 28, 2007,
Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon (Part 2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuToVx9f534, retrieved from afilmspalestine, Sep 12, 2008

May 28, 2007,Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon (Part 3), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xog_gXYGx3o&feature=related, retrieved from afilmspalestine, Sep 12, 2008

Rachel Corrie

Rachel Corrie is another victim for the cause, at age 23 Rachel decided to travel to Gaza Strip and become an activist to promote peace. The daily living situation of the Palestinians devastated Rachel as she never knew it was that bad, being that the media is very misleading... this is some of what Rachel had to say about it all....

July 05 2006. Rachel Corrie - Interview,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3JI-axaRF4. Retrieved from: Activistvideos: Sep 12, 2008

Rachel passed away 2 days after the interview, trying to stand in the way of an Israeli military bulldozer that was demolishing another Palestinian home, being run over in the process, and becoming another hero dying for the Palestinian case ....


December 21 2006. Billy Bragg: The Lonesome Death of Rachel Corrie, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WME495PWWJE. Retrieved from: Mastayosh: Sep 12, 2008
Goodbye Rachel, Your memory will live in our hearts forever....

In this Post i chose to upload 2 videos. One video of an interview with rachel, describing what she was doing in Gazza, being a peace activist, as well as the difficulties that she and palestinians faced everyday of their lives, therefore showing the reader that the israeli army does not only target "terrorists" but each and everyone living in Gazza, and therefore encouraging them to feel sympathatic towards the cause. after that, i chose to upload a music video dedicated for Rachel. the music video also gives the reader a sense of sorrow towards her. The musician also sings about how unfortunate it is that the whole world shows sympathy when an american dies, while hardly anyone cares when palestinian children and families die every day.

Friends of Palestine

Tom Hurndall, a British activist, in the International Solidarity Movement, born in november 29 1981, the photography student was shot in the head on the 11th of April 2003, while trying to stop an Israeli IDF officer from opening fire on unarmed Palestinian children, Tom died of a Coma 9 months after the incident. a symbol of bravery in a world full of madness... we will never forget you tom, goodbye ....
I think the story of Tom Hurndall is quite inspirational as he died as a hero, and he was a proof of the suffering Palestinians at the same time, and in a way i can say that he is a role model for me, as he died for what he believes in, freedom, peace and love.



June 02, 2006, Mad World a video cry for help, retrieved from jasonking10001, Sep 06, 2008
i also thought the video is touching as it shows photos of suffering kids in the region accompanied with nice mellow music.

Victims

February 22, 2007,
Free Palestine - Sami Yusuf ft Outlandish - Try Not To Cry, retrieved from, Nohman18, August 17, 2008

According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights Weekly Report, during the week of 28 Feb.- 05 Mar 2008, 114 Palestinians were killed, and 28 were injured by the Israeli military. Of those killed, 77 were killed by Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip. 27 were children, including two babies, 6 were women, and one was a paramedic. 69 of the victims were killed by Israeli forces in Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip during a massive air and ground assault. 236 Palestinians, including 154 civilians (this figure includes 56 children and 11 women) were wounded by Israeli forces. This makes me wonder... why is it that when September 11 happened, the whole world was filled with sorrow till today, yet Palestinian children have been constant victims of ongoing massacres done by the Israeli army .. yet that never seems to get the medias attention..... where is the justice ?? I wonder......

In this post i chose to have less opinions and more facts to give more credibility to the situation and support my point of view. Yet, at the same time i added a music video to help raise more sympathetic approach to the situation.

Palestinian Poetry

May 03, 2008, Ana Falestini, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ-kWNjsWq8&e, retrieved from MyLoveIslam, August 16, 2008
In this certain post, i uploaded a video of a talented little girl attempting poetry, however, she does not discuss love or friendship, only sorrow to the current situation in her home land. This comes to show the reader how passionate Palestinians are about their rights for freedom, also expressing sorrow at the same time.

This is what she had to say:
Palestinian, My name is Palestinian I've carved my name in all of the arenas The letters of my name follow me, live with me and nourish me It bursts fire into my soul and is pumped into my veins The caves of the mountains of fire (reference to the cities of Palestine) know me and acknowledge me I exerted the greatest energy and I said to my People "Be." Salahudin, from the deep depth of my soul calls me And all of my Nationalism for revenge and liberation calls to me And my banners that have been folded, are on the hills of 'Hiteen (The area where the little girls come from) And the cry of the Minister of Masjid Al-Aqsa calls to us, "Save me," "And the thousands of prisoners, and captives." It calls the greater nation and the millions of arabs"To Jersusalem, to the holy place," "To a battle that crushes injustice" and raises in the skies of the world the flags of Palestine." And my word continues to roar, "Palestinian, Palestinian, Palestinian."

Handala

"Handala" is a cartoon drawing done by a famous Palestinian cartoonist called Naji Al Ali. Naji Al Ali was evacuated from his home town in Palestine when he was 10 years old. He then moved to Lebanon to live in a refugee camp, as a cartoonist, Naji tried his best to show the suffering of the Palestinian refugees who lost their homes, land and identity. to Naji the little kid on the left who was named "Handala" was always 10 years old and never grew older, as this kid resembled Naji as a little kid when he had to leave his home in Palestine, and Handala is always giving his back to the photo as it resembles loss of hope and identity, as well as the international neglecting to the Palestinian case. Although Naji Al Ali was assassinated on the 29th of August 1987, Handala still stands as a great symbol to the Palestinian people, as it stands for the case in general..... handala also reflects deeply on my life, as growing up outside of palestine, i was not granted citizenship where i was born. My passport consisted of a Palestinian refugee document that had so many restrictions that i could not travel anywhere, especially palestine. Therefore, "Handala" always represented me in a way, a lost soul desperate to go home,and even though that dream is faced with so many challenges, I will never stop dreaming. Some people might find that weird as i have never been in Palestine, but the way i see it is, I dont live in Palestine, but Palestine is aways alive within me and everything i do!

Introduction

In this portfolio, I will show a brief of the palestinan history, tradition, suffering, refugees, and show videos, documentaries and facts presented by images, text and other sources about the long palestinien israeli struggle, and how all that reflected on my life today. and maybe make a video .

greetings everyone, and welcome to my blog!

in this blog i will discuss many of the obstacles that faced the palestinien refugees, since the state of Israel was formed in 1948, and how it affected my life till this present day.
My name is Adnan Alkhatib , and i come from a small village called `Amqa, `Amqa mosque, which was built 200 years ago , has alot of reference to my life today, as In arabic the term Alkhatib relates to the person who does the religious speech on special islamic ocasions, and leads the daily prayers, and since my family was in charge of the `Amqa Mosque, thats how my family name became Alkhatib .